Until now, they had been glued, screwed or concreted into the streets.
On Tuesday, however, activists from the group "Last Generation" glued themselves to the frame of what is probably the most famous picture in Dresden's Old Masters Picture Gallery: the "Sistine Madonna".
Stephen Locke
Correspondent for Saxony and Thuringia based in Dresden.
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The work, created in the 16th century by Raphael for the monastery church in Piacenza, was bought by Saxony's Elector August II, son of Augustus the Strong, from the monks of the monastery in 1754 after two years of negotiations, the result of which ultimately had to be approved by the Pope.
Since then, with an interruption between 1945 and 1955, it can be seen in Dresden.
"We are in an unprecedented crisis," the group said.
“The climate catastrophe will probably kill us if we don't change direction immediately.
That's why we interrupt the daily routine in art as well.” An alarm was triggered in the gallery, and it was closed to visitors immediately after the incident.
The 21 and 28-year-old activists, who each attached themselves to the frame with one hand and superglue, could be separated from the exhibit.
"The work of art itself was not damaged, only the non-historical frame," said a spokeswoman for the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).
Restorers are currently assessing the damage.
Police are investigating the activists who opposed the gallery being closed to visitors.
"You cannot prevent the collapse of society by clearing a museum and continuing to ignore the climate catastrophe," they said.
The SKD recently tightened their security concept.
So now no more coats and bags are allowed to be taken into the exhibition rooms, said SKD boss Marion Ackermann.
However, there will never be 100% security.